Charles Zhang -- Too Young to Retire
Liu Jia | Zhao Chenting
DATE:  Sep 07 2018
/ SOURCE:  Yicai
Charles Zhang -- Too Young to Retire Charles Zhang -- Too Young to Retire

(Yicai Global) Sept. 7 -- After slogging it out for 20 years in China's internet sector, few of Charles Zhang's peers are still actively managing their companies.

Zhang, known in Chinese as Zhang Chaoyang, suffered depression and took an absence of leave for two years ending 2014, but does not see retirement on the cards anytime soon, as he believes at 53 years old, he is too young.

"If the pursuit for the meaning of life depends on how to be humbler and more grateful, how to learn more, how to live to learn and live to act, then we can start anew at any age and our minds will forever absorb new ideas without retirement," he once said. "Everybody should be continuously revitalizing themselves and creating miracles -- that's my belief."

During his absence, Sohu's online gaming business ranked it third out of four nationwide, but it missed out on opportunities brought about by the rise of social media platforms like Weibo and WeChat.

The company also lost out in the video sector. Zhang's former subordinate Gu Yongqiang, who co-founded video platform Youku in 2006, merged with competitor Tudou, and another ex-employee Gong Yu, who had earlier left to found Iqiyi, snapped up PPStream. The two deals sunk Sohu Video from its top spot in the sector.

"Missing out on opportunities with Weibo and WeChat was like a slap to the face, on both cheeks," Zhang once told talk show host Yang Lan.

After being back in the game for two years, Zhang vowed in 2016 to bring Sohu back to center stage within three years, but it is still facing an uphill struggle.

Zhang claims to sleep only four hours a day and runs seven kilometers daily. He also sends out frequent live broadcasts in English.

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Keywords:   Sohu,Charles Zhang,Zhang Chaoyang,Retirement